National Endowments for the Arts appoints new chairman

The National Endowments for the Arts (NEA) has announced that Mary Anne Carter will become the new chairman, becoming the 12th chairman since 1965.

The United States Senate voted for Carter who had been serving as acting chairman of the agency since 5 June 2018 after succeeding Jane Chu. Carter has pushed to make the NEA more accessible to American people, directing an expansion of Creative Forces, an arts therapy programme for US service members and veterans recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and other psychological health conditions as well as improving national initiatives such as Shakespeare in American Communities, NEA Big Read, and National Heritage Fellowships.

Said Carter: “I look forward to continuing to lead a talented and dedicated staff of professionals in our important work of ensuring that every American – in every community and in every neighbourhood – has access to the arts.”

Americans for the Arts president and CEO Robert L Lynch added: “From inspiring thousands of arts administrators and supporters in cities and states across America, to representing the United States abroad in demonstrating the importance of collaboration and communication across cultures at the International Federation of Arts Council and Cultural Agencies conference in Kuala Lumpur, Mary Anne understands the inherent value of the arts, the importance of using the arts to help enhance quality of life, and the transformative power it has to individuals as well as to places.”